Illinois deer research / Pope County

Pope County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research

Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 26.4, ranked #100 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Buck Index.

D - Average
26.4 / 100
FDR Herd Index
#100 of 102
Statewide rank
86→
Buck Index
214,008
Bow-huntable acres (10 m estimate)
2,114
2024 deer harvest

What drives the Pope County index

The FDR Index combines five measured parts into one 0 to 100 score. Each part is scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.

Habitat26
Herd quality29
Population46
Momentum15
Buck Index8

Buck Index

86→ out of 100. How this county ranks on the Buck Index against every county we cover. 100 is the top. Land is measured as what a hunter can actually hunt (10 m estimate).

Hunting pressure

Pressure Index 5.6 / 10 (Middle). About 6.2 deer hunters per square mile of huntable land: 56th percentile of 3,051 rated counties in 48 states, 95th percentile within Illinois. How often deer run into people, 0 to 10 on one scale across every rated state; 10 is the most crowded county in the country.

Modeled. Illinois does not publish hunter numbers by county, so FDR places this county within Illinois from deer harvest per huntable acre (2020 to 2024 seasons) and population density. The model was checked against agency hunter counts in Michigan, Indiana and Missouri, and against agency hunter surveys by hunting unit in 10 more states. It estimates crowding; it is not a hunter count. Illinois averages 5.2 deer hunters per square mile of huntable land (state wildlife agency count, 2023-24 season).

2005–2024 harvest trend

SeasonArcheryFirearmTotal
20248451,2692,114
20239141,3792,293
20221,0121,5162,528
20218711,2662,137
20201,0411,3622,403
20199381,5342,472
20188621,5072,369
20178351,6052,440
20168271,5142,341
20158291,7072,536
20149591,5882,547
20139231,4622,385
20128511,6662,517
20118621,8512,713
20108881,7712,659
20097621,8502,612
20089431,8962,839
20078052,2413,046
20067952,2803,075
20059202,3103,230

Totals are IDNR's all-season county harvest; firearm includes the youth, muzzleloader and late-winter seasons. Source: Hunt Illinois county deer harvest. Buck density: Pope County averages 2.98 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).

See full Pope County harvest charts →

Harvest by sex

IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Pope County ran 1,287 bucks (males) and 827 does (females): 60.9% bucks.

SeasonBucks (M)Does (F)Total% bucks
20241,2878272,11460.9%
20231,4378562,29362.7%
20221,4521,0762,52857.4%
20211,2668712,13759.2%
20201,4011,0022,40358.3%
20191,4461,0262,47258.5%
20181,4319382,36960.4%
20171,4161,0242,44058%
20161,3429992,34157.3%
20151,5181,0182,53659.9%
20141,4771,0702,54758%
20131,3919942,38558.3%
20121,3871,1302,51755.1%
20111,6011,1122,71359%
20101,4771,1822,65955.5%
20091,5341,0782,61258.7%
20081,5361,3032,83954.1%
20071,7661,2803,04658%
20061,9161,1593,07562.3%
20051,8571,3733,23057.5%

See full Pope County sex-composition chart →

Age structure

IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Pope County ran 64% adult, 23.7% yearling, and 12.3% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.

SeasonAdultYearlingFawnTotal
20241,3525022602,114
20231,4065863012,293
20221,5386043862,528
20211,2924953502,137
20201,5305613122,403
20191,5515993222,472
20181,4456243002,369
20171,4615764032,440
20161,4385893142,341
20151,5026503842,536
20141,5395904182,547
20131,4446043372,385
20121,4126264792,517
20111,5566974602,713
20101,5805854942,659
20091,5196644292,612
20081,7036484882,839
20071,7686696093,046
20061,7188405173,075
20051,8338165803,229

Age class is IDNR's field classification at check-in, not a lab-aged tooth-wear cohort; treat it as a directional maturity signal.

See full Pope County composition charts →

Seasons & access

SeasonMethodDatesTags
Archery · Oct 1 to mid-Janarchery2026-10-01 → 2027-01-17otc
Firearm · 1st + 2nd Shotgun Seasonfirearm2026-11-20 → 2026-12-06otc
Muzzleloader · Decembermuzzleloader2026-12-11 → 2026-12-13otc

Bow-huntable land, public and private: 214,008 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.

Where to hunt public in Pope County

Lusk Creek Wilderness · 6,632 acBurke Branch Roadless Area · 6,231 acBurden Falls Wilderness · 3,740 acBay Creek Wilderness · 2,760 acCretaceous Hills State Natural Area · 511 acBurden Falls Roadless Area · 485 acBig Grand Pierre Glade State Natural Area · 331 acDog Island State Wildlife Management Area · 220 ac

Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.

See Pope County on the map

Parcels with owner & acreage, public hunting land with regs, access points, leaf-off imagery, and this research, together on one hunting map.

See all Pope County charts

Nearby counties

Massac · 34.4Hardin · 26.1Johnson · 28Saline · 42.7Gallatin · 50.7Williamson · 36.6Pulaski · 27Hamilton · 61.3
← #99 Pulaski County#101 Alexander County →

Frequently asked questions

Is Pope County, Illinois good for deer hunting?

Pope County scores 26.4 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (D - Average), ranked #100 of 102 Illinois counties. The index is built from IDNR public harvest records, habitat, herd quality, momentum, and the Buck Index.

What is the Buck Index for Pope County?

Pope County has a Buck Index of 86 out of 100. How this county ranks on the Buck Index against every county we cover. 100 is the top. Land is measured as what a hunter can actually hunt (10 m estimate).

Is there public hunting land in Pope County, Illinois?

Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 11 sites in Pope County, including Lusk Creek Wilderness, Burke Branch Roadless Area, Burden Falls Wilderness. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.

How many deer were harvested in Pope County last season?

IDNR records show 2,114 deer harvested in Pope County in 2024, the most recent reported season.

Cite this

Fully Drawn Research. "Pope County, Illinois deer hunting research." County page. https://www.fullydrawnresearch.ai/research/il/pope. Accessed Nov 1, 2026.

Data and charts from this page are free to use with attribution. See the Content Lab.

Sources: Illinois DNR public harvest and public-land records, plus FDR's own land data for the Buck Index. Public-record data only: no private contact information, no landowner lists.

Fully Drawn Research is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Historical data and modeled indexes describe the past; they are not a promise of hunting outcomes. Always verify current seasons, permits, and site rules with IDNR before you hunt.

© Fully Drawn Research · FDR Scout